2010 March 18
Dear National Academy of Engineering
I have looked at your report on K-12 Engineering Education
trying to find a policy on units of measure. I find no policy.
I looked for inch and find several uses. Because I find no
policy on units, I suggest that NAE adopt this policy.
K-12 schools shall teach only metric units of
measure. Inch-pound units shall not be taught
or tested for.
The teaching of both inch-pound units and metric units in
US schools is a big mistake. It costs somewhere in the range of
$700 billion each year. This is big money. A big part of this
cost is in teaching conversion. NAP need not be a party to this
expense.
Please tell me why you keep on saying teach inches
and possibly other units outside metric units.
Can you refer me to your policy statement on teaching
measurement and the units to use?
Thanks for your help.
Robert H Bushnell PhD PE
